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No longer a wallflower.

Softshells may fly relatively under the radar amongst the sea of jacket options you have vying for your attention every time you're planning a trip outside, but once you own one, you'll never overlook the category again. If you spend time spring skiing or head into the mountains in the off-season, when rain and colder temps are commonplace, you'll find yourself reaching for The North Face Apex Flex GTX Hooded Men's Jacket more than you expect.

Completely waterproof and windproof, the Apex Flex is equipped to keep you warm and dry while you're getting active in cool, wet weather. Whether you're braving a cold drizzle on slushy hiking trails or riding the lift to reach soft spring snow, the Apex's heavy-duty three-layer Gore-Tex construction repels harsh shoulder season wind and rain while its brushed knit lining adds a breathable layer of insulation that won't make you overheat.

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3rd Apex Flex GTX

Familiarity: I've put it through the wringer

Fit: True to size

Size Bought: Large

Height: 5'10"

Weight: 190lbs

This is my third TNF Apex Flex GTX. I really like the softshell feel of this jacket along with the protection of Gore-Tex. The jacket is built like a tank. The permeability is about what you would expect from a waterproof jacket...not great but the pit zips are a huge plus. In fact, I wouldn't buy one without pit zips especially if you expect to perform athletic activities while wearing the jacket Although there are some other products out there that are probably better (and you will certainly pay them) I really like this jacket as a shell for winter activities and its a decent value if you buy on sale. I've used it consistently in winter conditions in New Mexico & Colorado with a baselayer, 100wt fleece, and the Apex and it has done well for me. Although the Apex is heavier than the Gore-Tex Pac-Lite jackets it is certainly more durable and able to withstand more of a beating but its a trade off. This jacket is much too thick and heavy for summer wear in humble opinion.

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Ran a little Large

Familiarity: I've used it several times

Fit: Runs large

Height: 6'0"

Weight: 155lbs

Size seemed to have run a little large. The GoreTex feels really nice and I'm looking forward to putting it to the test. Doesn't have as many pockets as one may want, but every pocket is water-resistant and the Navy Blue looks sleek.

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Waterproof...?

Familiarity: I've put it through the wringer

Fit: True to size

Height: 5'10"

Weight: 155lbs

The Apex Flex falls just short of being the ultimate all-weather jacket. I've used this coat year-round through rain, wind, snow, and hail, and in most situations it provides a sense of security akin to that of body armor. But in my experience that all-weather rating begins to fall apart in heavy rain. It certainly has some water-resisting properties, but I have noticed moisture seeping through the jacket after prolonged exposure, which is unfortunate considering it's premium price. Perhaps someone with a different experience can share some information, but for now I recommend looking elsewhere if you need a truly waterproof rain jacket.

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Almost like a drysuit.

Familiarity: I've used it several times

Fit: True to size

Size Bought: Large

Height: 6'0"

Weight: 180lbs

I have a few TNF Gore-Tex jackets, so I haven't had a chance to wear this one until recently. If I need a versatile jacket that can deal with either wet and/or cold this is the one I will go with. It has the feel and flexibility of a TNF Apex jacket, but it is both breathable and waterproof. The pit-zips are always a valuable feature. Two odd things are there is no loop at the collar so you can place it on a hook to dry and there are no internal pockets (but there is a Napoleon outer pocket). I will take this jacket to any Colorado evening spring outdoor concerts as it will be able to handle almost anything.

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Cool Jacket true to size.

Familiarity: I've used it several times

Fit: True to size

Size Bought: Medium

Height: 5'7"

Weight: 165lbs

Feels strong Love this took this backcountry. Got the light blue looks sharp but gets dirty easy. Decided to wear for in and around town more or skiing. Skiing it was warm with a light fleece under it. True to size.

Stylish and flexible

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North face GTX Flex

Familiarity: I've put it through the wringer

Fit: Runs large

Size Bought: medium

Height: 5'6"

Weight: 145lbs

I bought this jacket to use while fishing and in rainstorms. This jacket really is waterproof, i've dunked my arm many times into the river to undo a snag and the water beads right off! The sizing is a little weird on it though. I bought a medium and the arms are like 3 inches too long for my arms. However it does have velcro cuffs so you can adjust it.

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Nice coat, just not for me.

Familiarity: I've used it once or twice and have initial impressions

Fit: True to size

Size Bought: XL

Height: 6'6"

Weight: 198lbs

After many months of searching for my next snow sports coat in an acid yellow color, I settled on this jacket. After trying on this coat in a size Large at REI, I had a good idea of the fit. I decided to order this coat in the Acid Yellow/Asphalt Grey in an XL because the L didn't seem to leave me much room for layering. Here are my Initial impressions out of the box.

Pros: 1. GORE-TEX 2. Super clean lines and an athletic trim instead of the normal boxy trim TNF is usually known for. I am 6'6" and about 198 lbs, so some would say that I'm pretty skinny for my height. I don't have a big belly but would consider myself to have an athletic build and sleeves on this coat never rode up past my wrists no matter what position my arms were in. I tried multiple different positions I thought I would find myself in while wearing this coat; pushing myself up from a sitting position a la sitting in deep pow while snowboarding or skiing, raising my arms over my head to adjust the hood, etc... and the sleeves never rode up once. 3. Nice choice of colors for this particular model. I hate it when all you get is black, brown and maybe a blue or red to choose from.

CONS: 1. When fully zipped, this coat had a really weird bulge in the main zipper right where the color block changes from grey to Acid Yellow, or about half way up on the solid color coats. This is probably the biggest factor for me returning this coat. I don't need some goofy bulge about around my sternum that I'm constantly trying to push in (that's what she said). 2.The torso length of the coat is somewhat shorter and it kept riding up on me while I was moving around. 3. Not enough Pockets. This coat only has two hand pockets and one chest pocket. I really like internal pockets for keeping my phone in while riding because it's an older model and the cold wreaks havoc on the battery life. I would also liked to have seen an arm pocket for ski passes. 4. The coat didn't come up far enough on my face when fully zipped up. Even with the hood up, the face flap sat too low on my face and I had a hard time trying to cover my face. On my previous coat, I used my face flap all the time when riding in inclement weather. Sure, I could use a gator or a balaclava but the simplicity of the tall face flap is awesome. 5. No wrist gators. My previous coat didn't have wrist gators either and I was set on buying some over-the-cuff gloves as well as a new coat but I decided to look for a coat with built in wrist gators or at least a base layer with built in wrist gators instead. 6. I wasn't a huge fan of the material. Although it's GORE-TEX, I'm looking more for something that feels like a shell rather than a softshell.

I guess that about sums up my experience with this coat. For a minimalist coat, I think it would fit the bill and perform excellently under all weather conditions. It just wasn't in the cards for me.

Instead, I decided to try out the Dakine Vapor 2L Gore-Tex Jacket in a size Large (Andorra color) and after a weekend of riding in Jackson Hole, that thing is the new love of my life. Fits my lanky arse like it was tailored just for me, has pockets aplenty (including internal and forearm pocket) and even comes with built in wrist gators. And, as the name infers, its GORE-TEX. That thing is siiiiiiiiiiick and sooooo stylish.

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So good!

Familiarity: I gave it as a gift but have feedback to share

Fit: True to size

I got this as a gift for someone who lives in Seattle, and he has been loving it! He is usually a large, and the large fit him perfectly with a great "regular" fit. He usually wears it while walking around town casually, so it has been in plenty of rain and done well so far. It also has that soft feeling liner which isn't really insulating but does make it feel nicer on your skin, and he has loved that!

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Pretty Solid Shell

Familiarity: I've used it several times

Fit: True to size

Size Bought: large

Height: 5'10"

Weight: 184lbs

I really like this shell. First time I used it in Breckenridge on Christmas Day 2017 and it worked great. It was snowing and pretty cold. I was wearing a baselayer, Marmot Reactor for insulation, and the TNF. I couldn't be more happy with the shell. It did great in these conditions. This year the jacket has also been to Monarch & Purgatory and did great there too!

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Perfect PNW Winter Jacket!

Mind you, I am very warm bodied and don't like insulated jackets for myself. This jacket would need an insulating layer for cooler temps for most people.

On my first test, I wore it alone with a thin IceBreaker t-shirt while I skied on a beautiful sunny day at Mt. Hood. Temps were mid high 30's. What I really love about this jacket is that it's super breathable. With that being said, I don't think it's as

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Swiss Army Knife of Jackets

Familiarity: I've put it through the wringer

Fit: Runs large

Size Bought: Small

Height: 5'9"

Weight: 140lbs

I'm convinced the Apex Flex was made just for me. I'm a college student on a crowded campus with tons of traffic. For me a (street legal) dirt bike is the fastest and most efficient way to commute, but leaves me to battle the elements on a daily basis.

This jacket was the answer. On warmer rainy days, I stay dry without being too hot. On cooler days, I'm shielded from wind chill, even at speeds of 60 mph. Once I've made it to class, the jacket rolls up into it's hood and goes in my backpack. After class is over, the Apex comes back out and keeps me comfortable on my afternoon rides, while providing ample movement to be able to maneuver freely.

Ideal usage is in temperatures from 50-70° F, with protection from wind and precipitation. Pair it with a cotton hoodie and you're even covered down to ≈ 35° F. This completely covers any and everything that the unpredictable South Georgia climate has tried to throw at me, especially in the cool, wet winter months.

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Heavy Duty Rain Shell

Familiarity: I've used it several times

Fit: True to size

Size Bought: Large

Height: 5'8"

Weight: 180lbs

I originally bought this in a MD, which is the same size as my North Face puffy jacket, but it was too slim considering it's a pretty stiff, thick shell. If it had flex and was more forgiving, then the MD would have been fine. I'm typically between a MD and a LG. The LG has plenty of room so it well work well if i want to layer with it. Cuts out the wind and sheds the rain well. This is not your typical rain shell.

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Great Jacket

Fit: True to size

Size Bought: Medium

Height: 6'0"

Weight: 167lbs

This jacket is fantastic. It is a slimmer cut but with just enough room for a baselayer and midweight puffy, which is plenty given that it is gore tex and wind/water proof. Best part is it moves like a softshell with the performance of a hardshell. My go-to jacket for everything.

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great city rain jacket

Familiarity: I've used it several times

Fit: True to size

Size Bought: Medium

Height: 5'9"

Weight: 155lbs

I got this jacket knowing I would use it around town and not necessarily as a hiking jacket. It is a little heavy to throw in a day pack and the zippers are on the stiffer side, so it doesn't pack up super small. That being said, it is great for what it is designed for, city and urban commuting. The softshell type material is nice, soft to the touch, quiet, and most importantly, stretchy. This is a great feature to have when putting a backpack to go to class and for getting in and out of the car, or taking it off in more cramped spaces, like the inside of a bar. It does breathe great as well and will catch just enough body heat in it to wear as a standalone on more mild fall days (50 degree range, I would say, for me). Has pit zips to dump extra heat as well. I do wish the chest pocket was larger. It is barely large enough for my phone (iphone 5s), so can't imagine what some of the larger phones fit like. Since it works for me and my needs, I didn't knock down any stars. Fit is true to size. I got a medium, which is the size I normally wear in most shirts. I can layer a flannel under it, but I don't know how much more I could layer and still be comfortable. Hood fits well and moves with my head, and doesn't rub my beard too much when zipped all the way up. Gore Tex should be an easy sell, too. Totally waterproof in the heavier rainstorms I have tested it in this past week.

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Great rain gear jacket!!

Familiarity: I've used it several times

Fit: True to size

Size Bought: Medium

Height: 5'5"

Weight: 140lbs

Looking for a rain jacket to compliment my Summit Series fleece layer, this was definitely it. Size was definitely more forgiving than previous TNF products I've purchased so stick to your size. Getting it from BC was so easy and helpful with an exchange.

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UpdateExceptional...get one! (or two)...

Familiarity: I've put it through the wringer

Fit: Runs large

Size Bought: 2xl

Height: 5'11"

Weight: 225lbs

AS per the below...have put this through the ringer...just bought a second one. I'm a fan of TNF...and partial to Arcteryx kit too...but the latter is expensive...TNF has really raised the bar with this fabric and seriously thrown a challenge out there. It's a softshell, but has many elements of a technical shell based on its "weatherliness". Have been using exclusively for -2 to 2C days with base layer, TNF thermoball vest and its super warm and functional. Only criticism would be sleeve pocket (for lift pass)and this would be a 6 star jacket. Fabric is flexible and moves with you, the brushed lining does add warmth. Its extremely windproof and repels moisture (snow and rain) well. Will be interested to know how long this lasts. Hood works well with helmet (smith Vantage) and when fully zippered on windy/powder days plenty of room around the face, velcro sleeve tabs provide options whether wearing cuff or gauntlet gloves... Would highly recommend. Went one size up thinking i'd need to layer to stay warm...wrong...not needed. So say should fit true to size. Update: would recommend going down a size if you like tighter fitting shells, the stretch does give you added flexibility.